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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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Hollinger Corp. 
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PREFACE. 

The paoces contained in this little pamphlet are 
published at the re([uest of the wife of the 
young- man who>e death bed confession lies be- 
ioie you. One of the most prominent physi- 
cians to whom the confession was made in full, 
has kindly volunteered to have the facts pub- 
lished and oflered for sale. Aside from the 
charitable object in view, it is a curious series 
of facts, and not until the end of the confession 
doe? the singular entrance of the Postage 
Stamp take place. 

The low price of this little book will enable 
every one to purchase a curiou^^and wonderful 
piece of reading. ty^ 

Ralph BoDEXEAUX, M. D. 



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Entered according to Act of Congress in tl^e 
year 1869, by Ralph Bodeneaux, M. D. , in 
the Clerks office of the District Court of the 
United States for the Eastern District of 
MissourL 






THE CONFESSION. 

Ill the summer of 18— I was called to attend 
upon a younof man who was stricken down in 
the prime of life by that terrible scourge, the 
Small Pox. The wife of the vouno- man fiad 
delayed to long ere summoning a physician, arid 
the disease had taken such deep root upon his 
systEui, that 1 saw at a glance there was very 
little chance tor his recovery— however I kept 
the young man alive long enougli to receive 
from his lips the following confession, verbaiem 
et literatum. 

Two days before he died he said to his wite, 
Dora, I wish you would leave me alone with 
the Doctor for aa hour or two us I have some- 
thing to communicate to him which I prefer 
you should not hear from my lips— though 
when I am dead you will know all. His wife 
lett the room weeping. When the door was 
closed, he motioned me to take a chair and be 
seated near his bedside. I complied with his 
request, eager to hear what my patient had to 



impart unto mo. When" I had beeome seated 
he reached out his arm and took my hand in 
his— Doctor, said he. tell me honestly and truly 
how long I htive o-ot to live— tell me the truth, 
for I know that I have «^ot to die ere many 

hours have passed away. E. said I lay- 

in|j my hand on his pulse, you certainly cannot 
survive more than thirty six hours at the 
farthest, there I have told you the truth, and 
may you find rest for your soul ere that time 
Jias passed. 'Tis well said he. Doctor listen 
to me while I relate to you part of my history- — 
that part which has haunted and troubled me 
for many, many months. Promise me that 
you Avill not disclose one word o f what I say 
until the clay is over my coffin. j promise 
you I replied. Then listen to the confession of 
a dyin^ man. 

In 18 — -, I came to this city trom the East, 
I had heard much of the Western Country, and 
determined to seek my fortune in this city: I 
brought with me letters of recommendation 
from several prominent men in the East. In 
less than a month after my arrival these secured 
me a situation in one of the larcrest business 
houses in the city . In a short time I g-ained, 
as I supposed, the full confidence of my em- 
ployers, who treated me with marked respect 
and courtesy. A year passed away, at the end 
of which time my position & salary were raised, 



with fair prospects of a future j^iJartnehhip in 
tlie lirm. Darin tf my term of service in the 
house I became acquainted with the ladj'^ who 
is now my wife; having saved some little 
money trom my salary, in addition to a small 
sum brought with me trom the East, I thought 
the matter over in my mind and thinking of 
the prospects before me, i considered myself 
safe in getting married. The ceremony was 
performed in a quiet way, and with my wife, 
took rooms in one of the modest boarding 
houses, with which this city is crowded. I 
doubt if ever there was a happier couple in ex- 
istence tiian Dora and myself, but even the 
clouds that have a silver lining are black enough 
in the center, my wife almost daily visited me 
at the store, as she felt lonely being lefi alone 
during the working hours. It was not long 
ere she was acquainted with the proprietors, and 
if she chanced to call upon me while I was very 
busj', she would retire to the office and converse 
with either of the firm until my busy moments 
were over, when she would return to my side 
and enjoy a chat with me. One day she paid 
me a visit, I happened to be extremely busy at 
the time, seeing which, and not wishing to 
interupt mo she as usual proceeded to the 
office. Our Junior member was not in town at 
the time and no one occupied the office but our 
Senior. I .had nearly finished' my business 



6 

with one of our best cnstomers from 
the country, in fact he was just on tlie 
point of leaving the store, when my wife came 
rushing out of the office, her tace pale and her 
eyes filled with angry tears. I gazed at her 
with astonishment us she came up to me. She 
cried, r have been grossly insulted. 1 was so 
thunderstruck at this remark that or a moment 
oi: two my tongue could not find speech . When 
it did 1 exclaiaied, how — where I In there, 
she replied, pointing toward the otiice. I 
rushed forward furious with rage, on reaching 
the door I found it locked , with one blow from 
my foot I bui-st it open and rushed in, there 
stood the Senior member with a large ebony 
ruler in his hand apparently on the defensive ; 
not thinking or caring for the consequences I 
sprang upon him and seized him by the throat, 
he being a much more powerful man than my- 
self, released himself from my grasp, and on 
the next instant, struck me a fearful blow on 
the head with the ruler. I sank senseless to the 
floor, a film of darkness came over me. When 
I came to 1 found myself lying in bed i»t my 
boarding houoc and my wife bending over me. 
1 was delirious for some days after wards-, but 
finally recoverad from the eflects of the fearful 
blow- Tnen my wife told me the whole story 
of how alie had been insulted by the Senior 
mejaiber. My blood fairly boiled witli rage to 



triink ^ that the ' man wliom 1 had trusted a^ a'^' 
tri6fld sliould have become my bitterest enemy. 
Little 'did I think or know what a wolf in 
slieei)s clothing had been befriending me 
ajDi^orehtry: 

\Vh en t was able to leave my bed L inimedi- 
ately armed myself with a revolver and proceed- 
ed to the store, determined to shoot the villian 
on sio'iit. ^On reaching the house I Was refused 
admittance by order of the firm. I secreted 
nij^self however near the store, and awaited the 
coaming of the man I sought, but my disap* 
pdihanent was great at not seeing him- he had^ 
either left the city or else escaped by somie ^ 
other way than from the front. About eight 
o'clock in the evening 1 returned home> sad at 
heart. Early the next morning, in fact a long ^ 
time before the store was opened, I was at my 
post; again wa<5 I doomed to dissapointment, 
not a sVgn did I see of the man 1 was seeking—.. 
dffV after day did I trayerse the city — day after 
day did I await his appearance at his place of 
bitsihVss— day after day did I seek him at his 
resideiice— but of no avail. When a month had 
passed, t came to rlie conclusion that he had 
left the city on making enquire.* I found he had 
left town, but 1 could gani no information as to 
hi« whereabouts. Depressed in mind and 
spirit at my not l^eing successful, I sbut myself 
up in the house and there brooded over my 



wrongs. My wife endeavoured to comfort and 
console me; she had recovered from the excite- 
ment and agitation that she had received at the 
hands of my great and generous nenefactor; and 
in fact, she was mucli more selt-possessed tlian 
myself. Another month passed away, when I 
bethought mj^self that it was time to be seekinu; 
emploj^ment, as my tunds were becoming rather 
low. I had also become more reconciled to my 
misfortune and tried to put a cheertul face on 
the matter. I applied to several parties in the 
city, but was politely informed that they did 
not wish employ a defaulter. That was the 
crowning stroke — a defaulter ! i could obtain 
no explanation, merely beyond that they had 
heard of me from good authority, and they 
could give me nothing. Wlien I intormed my 
wife of this she was nearly broken hearted. 
As I could not obtain employment in ihe city, 
I concluded the best plan was to seek a situa- 
tion elsewhere. Quietly mj- wife and I packed 
our trunks, and took passage on tlie Steamer 
Ruth for Memphis. On reaching that place we 
put up at one of the hotels. On the day follow- 
ing our arrival I set out to look for something 
to do; I was not particular as to what it was, as 
as I was becoming reckless. Fortune seemed 
to favor nie, lor on the third diy I proeucd n 
berth as salesman in a Wiiole.<;ile groicrv: .My 
mind then felt somewhat easier, as I could see 



9 

my w.ij- somewhat clearer. After obtaining 
the situation, we moved to a respectable board- 
inf? house where our expenses would be con- 
siderably less. Thino^s went on very smoothly 
for a month or two, and I vvas fllatterino- myself 
highly that I had 2;ot inio the good graces of my 
new employer. One day while I was packint;; 
some goods that were to be sent inland, I heard 
my name called by the proprietor ; on going to 
the office door he told me to come in as he 
wished to speak to me on a matter of great im- 
portance. I entered the office and sealed my- 
selt in a chair and waited to hear his remarks. 
Taking a lett(!r from his desk he spread it open 
and handing it to me bade me to peruse its 
contents The letter read as near as I can 
remember, in this wise : 

St. Louis, May 18 

Mr. H., 

Dear Sir : 

. I understand that you have 
in your employ a young man by the name of 

O 6 C h. I do not wish to make 

you feel that I have interfered in anj' way, shape 
or form with your business, but I deem it my 
duty to put you on your guard in reference to 
the young man whom you have in j'our store. 
I will state the facts in a few plain words, and 
then you can act as you think proper. In 
March, 18 , the person of whom I speak 



10 

made his appeaiatttfe at Wj'^^^^cM&e 4iiiW tfend^ied-' 
me several letters ot ree^rnmenfetloii,'' mi' tfae 
strength of which I gave him a Bittiation.' I 
thought him to be an hoftest, srraight-forward'- 
j^oungman, but alks, 1 \Vas dij^S^pointed. ^■ 
had not been in mj' employ" more than a yeiat' 
and a half wheh T foutVd that -1 had ca)ij:e to 
suspect him of • dishonesty ; I watched hinbi 
closely for seveal weeks and was finally cohvin-' 
ced that my suspicions wcire correct. I -cabled-" 
him to me and statKl to hirwwtfat T knew^ ^Mf ' 
with tears in his eyeSV eoitesed the' fact ancl 
made a full statement of Ms <^iMito[e; ' ^I- did itot 
wish to prefer charges against him ,'^ as I'knte^ - 
it would go hard with hi ni^ in ' the court rOoin," 
sol merely disobarged 'him from my employ ''' 
and let the mfitter drop. If you yourself Svrsh 
to keep him in j^our service, well and good, but 
I can assure you, yoii will be the loser in the 
erid. Ihave 1 he-honor to reihatn' ^- 
Respecttulh^ 
Your ob It. servant, 

Doctoi-, wlien'l hjtd flhi^ed--thfe'a^fbBr; '¥■ 
thought to myself tHat i^ the neatest '\>\ece of 
villany I ever saw. That i= thie revenge said''' ft" ' 
Wieli sir, can yoii explain the -Cf>ntents-<>f thKt '^ 
lettej-, aske({ my new employer ? Da'3T>u be-^'' 
1 ie-ve its con i ph t.s^ si r , I replied r* VV hat efte nrn' ' 
1 to do but believi^ it V You see it is w"ritten%y';- 



11 

one of the most prominent men in St. Louis, 
and you say notiiing or give no explanation in 
order to prove to the contrary. Because I have 
TiO explanation to make beyond that the whole 
thing is false and gotten up lor revenge.^ Oh 
that will not do sir, replied he. such a man as 
that would liave no motive for revenge on a clerk 
that was formerly in his employ. It was in 
vain, Doctor, that r expostulated with him, it 
was of no avail. I was ordered to receive my 
wages due from the book-keeper, and lake my 
departure, which I did. On returning home I 
broke the news to Dora, who clenched her little 
hands with rage at the miserable mean conduct 
of the cowardly villian who lad sought to 
wrong me. I soon found out that tne i ews in 
the letter had been spread among the business 
houses of Memphis, and once more I found it 
impossible to procure employment. My next 
step was to go to Vicksburg, there I obtained 
an inferior position in a Government office, but 
I was not destined to remain there long. One 
day I was suddenly discharged, the only expla- 
natlon^being that I was reported as being dis- 
honest. I knew well enough that I had been 
tracked to Vicksburg, and another letter must 
have been written similar to the first. Mj'^ 
mind was in a perfect torture. How long was this 
to go OD ? I tried again and again in Vicksburg 
togetwirk, but all to no purpose. Finding 



12 

mj^ money running short I pursued my vrsiy 
to New Orleans, there I thought myself sate, 
bui I was doomed, at least it seemed so, I had 
just enstalled myself in a first class house, when 
I was again summoned to the office and informed 
that my services were no longer required ; this 
drove me to a perfect frenzy. In turn I look a 
solemn oath that I would retailiate on my 
enemy, and let him see to his cost that two 
could play at the game he was then holding in 
his own hands. My wife tried to comfort me, 
but all to no purpo se. I swore that I would be 
revenged, and I set to work and racked my 
brain in order to think and devise some plan in 
which I could rid myself of my enemy. At 
last I devised a plan by which I knew there 
would be little chance of discovery. Having 
settled the thing in my mind, I applied to a 
druggist und obtained from him a deadly poison 
the least panicle of which entered the stomach 
was sure death. After obtaining the poison, 
my next step was to procure some six or eight 
postage stamps; my motive in doing so was 
this ; I knew that the man who hated me, 
placed any small change or stamps that he re- 
ceived by mail, in a little private drawer in his- 
desk, and I also knew that no one else but 
hini?elf used the postage- stamps. After pro- 
curing the stamps I carried them to my room 
where I caretull removed the mucilage on the 



13 

back, \vasliin<>- it CArefiiUy so that not a vestis:e 
remained ; then witli some frei>h ouni arabic 
which I had dissolved and mixed vvitli the 
deadly poison I had obtained, I took a brush and 
spread the mixture over the stamps, and laid 
them in the sun to dry, after which they looked 
just the same as when [ [obtained them at the 
Post Office. I then sat down and wrote a letter 
to my late St. Louis employer, to the effect that 
I was a party who some years ago had kept back 
a small amount of money on a sale that he had 
made to me. and not havino- the exact amount 
I remitted the balance in in stamps. 

At the same time I wi-ote a letter to the lead- 
inof paper in St. Louis,- statinof that I wis-hed to 
subscribe tor three months, as I knew it the 
thing was settled, it would, surely take place in 
few weeks, and I should have the satisfaction of 
seeino; the death of my enemy in the paper. 
The paper came duly to hand day after day for 
several weeks. I was only interested in the 
column of deaths, INIy mind was on nothino- 
else, At last, one morniuo: in looking over the 
paper, I had the grim satisfaction of reading a 
notice of the death of the man who had prose- 
cuted me. I drew a long breath of relief, 
though at the same time feeling a horible re- 
morse, but I had determined on revenge, and I 
got it. I sent to my friends in New York City 
and obtained a fresh supply of money, after 



14 

which 1 hastened to St. Louis, Chai>ginej my 
name I ao:ain procured emploj- ment and remain- 
ed unmolested. And now Doctor I have finish- 
ed. May God forgive me for what I have done. 
I had been driven almost to madness by the 
wretch who had sought to wrong me, and I do 
not think my sin is any greater than his. 

You may call in my wife now if you please, 
and remember your promise, not a word of this 
until I am buried, then if you choose you can 
tell it to the world, 

During the young man's statement I remained 
at his bedside wrapt in wonderment, thinking 
to myself what a curious relation ot tacts, and 
that truth is still greater tban fiction. 

I called in his wife as requested and then lett 
the house. On the following day I was at his 
bedside when he died, his poor, young and 
beautiful wife was nearly heart broken. 

After the last ceremonies bad been performed, 
I related to the widow what had been told me. 
She knew the whole tacts with the exception ot 
the poisining. 

The lady is still living in this section of the 
country in needful circumstances, and for this 
reason she has consented to have the confession 
published, the profits derived from which will 
go to her , 



,15 

There are several parties livinom this city 
at th;e ]f)resent time who are well -acquainted 
witli all th^ parties mentioned in this UtUe 
paix^phiet. 



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